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Author Topic: Anyone gone totally Linux?  (Read 2733 times)

WD0EGC

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Anyone gone totally Linux?
« on: January 21, 2021, 08:04:03 AM »

My three computers at home are pretty old, 10 years old, an old iMac, a Mac laptop (with hardware issues), and an old Windows machine I inherited from an estate.  I've used Macs for a long time, but now I read that Apple is going to a new chip (M-1).  This is the second switcheroo.  They went from Motorola to Intel, eventually stranding a lot of my software, and now they are going from Intel to M-1, which will also strand a lot of software, probably most of it on my old Macs.  I should also say that I am retiring soon, and that my Mac at work is really old, too. 

As far as ham radio goes, I'm using the old Windows PC.  I'm running HRD on it, but my guess is that the computer's days are numbered.

So, I'm toying with the idea of keeping the iMac in good repair for legacy stuff from work, but going with Linux-based computers into the future/retirement. 

So, I'd like to have a discussion with hams here who have gone totally with Linux for their personal computing needs, how do you do digital, rig control, the stuff that HRD does.

Thanks

Jay

WSØY, formerly WDØEGC 
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N6YWU

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2021, 08:43:08 AM »

When macOS removed support for 32-bit code about 3 years ago, that stranded a lot of software.

But the switch from x86 to arm64 stranded almost none of the 64-bit Mac software that I use.  Almost every app that I used runs just fine (and often faster) on my new M1 MacBook. 

I use the Macs mainly for iOS app development.  But for radio software, I use multiple Raspberry Pi's running their variety of Debian Linux.  I use wsjt-x for digital modes, and SparkSDR or Quisk to talk to my Hermes Lite 2 SDR transceiver.  I also have one of the TAPR boards to transmit WSPR signals directly from a Raspberry Pi.
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VE6MB

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2021, 09:59:21 AM »

I made an attempt awhile ago to see if I could go totally linux......   I have played with Linux since 1998 and love raspberry pi single board compuers running their version of Debian Linux (Raspbian).

For digital;
There are linux versions of wsjt-x for (FT4, FT8, etc), or
FLDIGI (CW, PSK, MFSK, RTTY, Hell, DominoEX, Olivia, and Throb).

For satellite you can use Gpredict and that interfaces with the Radio/Rotor control "Hamlib" libaries..... (I have used the radio control successfully with IC-7300, IC-9700, Yaesu FT-817ND, Ft-857D radios)....I don't have a rotator...so I can't comment on that aspect.

There is a linux version of CHIRP for programming various radios as well.

Specific radio control software, could be a little more tricky.....

Hope it helps.

73, Valentino VE6MB
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WW5F

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2021, 10:25:11 AM »

I decided to reload my Windows 7 box a couple days ago.  After wiping the hard drive and reloading from my install disk, it wouldn't update.  Looks like the Windows 7 update servers were turned off about a week ago.  They *really* want you to upgrade to the Windows 10 spyware.

Now I'm 100% linux.  Currently Fedora 33.

I can control my radio and automatically update some logging fields, like frequency, mode and time, but I can no longer do the macro keyer thing to speed up CW contesting.  Oh well...  Not really into hard core CW contesting these days anyway.

As for office functions, I'm now in the process of converting all my .xls and .doc files to .ods and .odt files.

No difference in web surfing.  The only web browser I use is Brave.  That keeps out a lot of trackers.

My backup strategy is changing a bit.  But other than that, I'm fine.  I actually feel a bit more free.

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K6SDW

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2021, 10:30:10 AM »

No......I've tried Linux several times since 1980's and I'm not impressed. I even did the dual boot thing and still wasn't impressed with Linux. I've run speed tests between Windows and Linux and not much difference. I've purposefully tried to crash Linux and it wasn't that hard to do.

However, if you like esoteric operating systems and want a challenge, consider dual booting your computer and see if you like Linux - you can always uninstall it.

IMO, there is no perfect operating system they all have warts. The most reliable OS, IMO was IBM's OS2 and was widely used in the early 1990's by corporations. You'll notice in the business world it's Windows desktop, however in the server world it's either Windows Server or Linux.......Linux is free, Microsoft Server software isn't free.


I've switched to Brave Internet browser and I've never looked back.

GL
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 10:42:39 AM by K6SDW »
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K9FV

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2021, 10:32:43 AM »

One thing to consider when considering total Linux is tax software.  I've not been able to find any tax software that runs under Linux, not with Wine or even VB.  I have to boot to the windows OS, and since that's Win7 it says 2020 tax software (TT or HRB) won't run. 

If anyone got a good (decent) tax software for Linux I'd be interested in reading about it.
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K4PIH

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2021, 11:10:43 AM »

Years ago I used an early version of Ubuntu running on a separate computer. To be truthful I found it to be enjoyable and I got it to play nice with the Windows boxes on my home net. Seemed to work fine with most of the radio software that I used. Fast forward and I've relocated my QTH and of course my shack and am using Windows boxes for almost everything, and I'm thinking of once again getting a new version of Ubuntu or Mint or some other system and trying again. I do have one dedicated SDR on a mini tablet running Android and it seems to work pretty good. I would recommend getting an totally different machine and installing only a Linux based OS on it and going from there. Never have liked the dual-boot option. One last note. I also have FLDigi running on the Android machine and it seems to function same as the windows edition.
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KX4OM

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2021, 11:15:45 AM »

Some Linux distributions are better suited for older equipment than others. Several distros have gone 64-bit only. I've run 2 Dell Inspiron laptops from the Windows Vista era that have 4GB RAM that I redid for Windows 7 and for Windows 10, and they are 64-bit OS capable. One of them currently dual-boots Linux Mint 64-bit. With those 11 year old machines, they might choke on some ham radio applications, whether they are running Linux or Windows, but I haven't experienced such. My current primary laptop is a 3-year old HP running Windows 10 Pro with 16 GB RAM. and 256 GB SSD. I paid $279, refurbished from Micro Center.

My large amount of Data I keep on a Linux Mint file server with multiple hard drives for redundancy. I use Windows 10's drive mapping feature and Samba on Linux to access the drives as if they are local on the laptop.

I have an old Dell tower running Windows XP with 512 MB RAM. I use it mainly to run legacy MS-Office 2003 because Excel is needed for specific lab hardware/software applications and parallel port for an old Velleman PC scope/spectrum analyzer.

If you want to go Linux on the cheap, you can get a Raspberry Pi 4 for $35. They became much more useful when they introduced the Pi 4, as they have USB 3, which allows faster file transfer performance to hard drives with USB SATA interface. They are available with 2 GB (The $35 one), 4GB and 8GB RAM for more money. I am migrating my file server from an 8GB 2008-vintage former gamer machine with a 650W power supply and a big a GPU video card to a 2GB Raspberry Pi 4, to be run headless (no monitor). That will cut the electrical bill way down. I tested the server setup with a Raspberry Pi Model B+ before I  bought the Pi 4.

Ted, KX4OM
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AC7CW

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2021, 11:34:12 AM »

Not using Linux currently but WINE gets upgraded periodically. It's possible that people that tried Linux in the past would do better with the newest WINE that was released recently.
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

N6MST

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2021, 12:56:59 PM »

One thing to consider when considering total Linux is tax software.  I've not been able to find any tax software that runs under Linux, not with Wine or even VB.  I have to boot to the windows OS, and since that's Win7 it says 2020 tax software (TT or HRB) won't run. 

If anyone got a good (decent) tax software for Linux I'd be interested in reading about it.

Actual tax software like TurboTax or just general financial software? GnuCash is a Quickbooks alternative for Linux users and I think Quickbooks may even have a web application. I also think TurboTax itself may have a web app users can utilize to do taxes.
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NA4IT

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2021, 01:05:14 PM »

I've been totally Linux for 5 or 6 years. I run Linux Mint.

I'm not active in Ham Radio now, but you can find most any digital sound card software for Linux. You will have to learn how to load some softwares, but do a search on the net and you'll find good help. Also, Linux runs circles around Windoze when it comes to the Signalink USB. Linux is much more responsive.

I also ran a Linux Mint machine at the last church where I ran sound. It handled all of my sound files, as well as sound file editing.

About the only thing I couldn't do with Linux was Winlink.

Linux Mint is an easy distro to learn, as it's desktop and Menu works pretty much like Windoze.
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W4DIP

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2021, 01:32:48 PM »

IMHO, the great promise of Linux for the average person was ruined by two factors -
1) A gazillion competing Distros
2) Not understanding one simple concept - "Tho Shalt Not use the Command Line".
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N6MST

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2021, 01:37:16 PM »

"Tho Shalt Not use the Command Line"

People who don't utilize the command line are missing out.

I dumped Windows years ago, jumped straight into the deep end with a now-dead distribution called Crunchbang, and have NEVER looked back. I use Debian most of the time now. Literally, one of the BEST decisions I have made in my life.
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W7XTV

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2021, 02:26:40 PM »

One thing to consider when considering total Linux is tax software.  I've not been able to find any tax software that runs under Linux, not with Wine or even VB.  I have to boot to the windows OS, and since that's Win7 it says 2020 tax software (TT or HRB) won't run. 

If anyone got a good (decent) tax software for Linux I'd be interested in reading about it.

I've been using TaxAct Online for over a decade.  No security issues, and it works in Firefox and Chrome.  OS doesn't matter since it's online.
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He speaks fluent PSK31, in FT8...  One QSO with him earns you 5BDXCC...  His Wouff Hong has two Wouffs... Hiram Percy Maxim called HIM "The Old Man..."  He is... The Most Interesting Ham In The World!

W7XTV

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Re: Anyone gone totally Linux?
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2021, 02:32:49 PM »

IMHO, the great promise of Linux for the average person was ruined by two factors -
1) A gazillion competing Distros

There are only about a half dozen or so distros that can be considered "major."  Most, save for Fedora, OpenSuSE, and Slackware, are Debian-based.  I would include the Red Hat clone Centos, but it's going away.  It's usually way out of date, anyway.

Mint is excellent for new users who don't want to get their hands dirty with the "inside stuff."  I use both it and Slackware (which I don't recommend for non-technical desktop users), depending on the machine and what it's used for.

Quote
2) Not understanding one simple concept - "Tho Shalt Not use the Command Line".

Stick with Mint or Ubuntu, and the command line will be rarely used, if ever.
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He speaks fluent PSK31, in FT8...  One QSO with him earns you 5BDXCC...  His Wouff Hong has two Wouffs... Hiram Percy Maxim called HIM "The Old Man..."  He is... The Most Interesting Ham In The World!
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